SEA93LA197

During a pleasure cross country flight, the engine lost power approximately nine miles south of the airport. The pilot was unable to restart the engine and a forced landing was made to an open field. During the landing roll, the airplane collided with the terrain. During the post crash inspection, the fuel tanks were found empty.

On September 10, 1993, at 1630 Pacific daylight time, a Piper PA-28-181, N6114J, collided with the terrain during an emergency forced landing near Merrill, Oregon. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and a visual flight rules flight plan was filed for the personal flight. The airplane was substantially damaged and the certificated private pilot received minor injuries. The flight had departed from Red Bluff, California, on September 10, 1993, at 1435 and was en route to Klamath Falls, Oregon.

In a written statement, the pilot reported that he planned a flight from San Jose, California, to Klamath Falls, with a stop in Red Bluff. The fuel tanks were full at the time of departure from San Jose, and no fuel was added before departing from Red Bluff. The pilot stated that the flight was not direct and course deviations for terrain clearance and sightseeing were performed along the route.

At 1605, the pilot cancelled the VFR flight plan with Redmond Flight Service Station and the flight continued direct to Klamath Falls. At 1620, the flight was approximately 20 miles from Klamath Falls when the engine sputtered. The pilot switched fuel tanks and the engine resumed full power. At this time, the pilot stated that he assumed that the airplane still had approximately two hours of fuel remaining.

When the flight was approximately nine miles from the airport and descending, the engine quit. The pilot tried to restart the engine without success. The pilot then selected a country road for the forced landing, however, when the airplane was on final approach, the pilot noted that a truck was on the road and in his landing path. The pilot diverted to an open field where the airplane collided with the terrain during the landing roll.

During the post crash inspection, a Federal Aviation Administration Inspector from the Hillsboro, Oregon, Flight Standards District Office reported that the fuel tanks were empty.